The Weather outside is frightful

and I've been enjoying the heck out of it :)



I know many of you are suffering through really cold temperatures and snow and probably already for the warm sun to come back, but folks like me in Arizona don't really get to enjoy the rain or cool temps very often, so when it comes around I embrace it fully and enjoy every single minute of it.

I've been extremely busy lately, December is always just downright crazy for me, it's a mixture of the normal day to day life but the added stress of the holidays plus trying to finish all the homeschooling work so we can have our Winter Break.  Which, I'm proud to say we did yesterday so we are officially on break until January :)

Been enjoying sitting on this chair, right next to the Christmas tree.  Smelling the pine needles, watching the beautiful lights and rocking back and forth crocheting :)

The rain fell steadily for two straight days, days were dark, gloomy, cold and wet.  Perfect for being in the kitchen and baking.

Snickerdoodles.

I'm not a big fan of cookies, matter of fact you could leave packs of them laying around and I almost never touch them at all.  But Snickerdoodles is a whole other matter, these are my absolute favorite cookie on earth :)

Little Miss Lola has been enjoying the weather too, snuggled on the couch.  I had to snap this pic because it looks like she's trying to be part of the pillow :)

Rain and Christmas lights always make for a pretty effect :)

I got up this morning and the rain clouds were moving away, the sun was peeking out from behind them and I thought it made for such a brilliant shot.  It made me stop and think, stop and thank the Lord for everything that he constantly blesses me with.

And just as quick it hid back behind the last few clouds.

I've also been enjoying soups and my crockpots.  Actually for the past two weeks, when I made my menu plan, I made sure that everything was made in the slow cooker, because I know how crazy this time of the month can get.  Here is my Butternut Squash Soup.  Yum!

My days have been full, not only with crafts and homemade gifts, with children and schooling, with learning and housework, but full of love and full of blessings and full of the Lord's lessons.

I hope that all of you who read my blog are as content as I feel right now.  I also know that it's a tough time of the year for everyone, it's hard for me because I find myself constantly thinking of the family that I can't have nearby, of the loved ones that have passed on, and I find myself near tears quite often. 

I do believe though that it's also the time of year when we most need to hold on to our Faith, to put our lives in the Lord's hands and to allow Him to guide us through it. 

So for those that are depressed, that are down, that are feeling sad, I send you hugs.

God Bless,
Sandra